Abstract:
Objective To investigate the expression of heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) in children with neuroblastomas and analyze the relationship of Hsp27 expression and clinicopathological parameters with chemotherapeutic agents.
Methods Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to detect the expression of Hsp27 protein in 90 neuroblastomas (NBs), 24 ganglioneuroblastomas (GNBs), and 20 ganglioneuromas (GNs). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction PCR (RT-qPCR) examinations were performed to detect the expression of mRNA in 59 NBs/GNBs, 5GNs, neuroblastoma cell lines, and drug-resistant cell lines. Immunohistochemical staining, PCR amplification, and sequencing were used to examine the expression or mutation of drug-related genomic markers in 18 NBs/GNBs.
Results The positive expression rates of Hsp27 in NBs/GNBs were significantly higher than that in GNs (64.9% vs. 0, χ2=28.994, P < 0.05). In NBs/GNBs, positive Hsp27 expression was associated with tumor stage, risk stratification, metastasis, and prognosis (P < 0.05), but was not associated with age, sex, Shimada classification, or N-MYC (P>0.05). The mRNA levels of Hsp27 in NBs/GNBs were higher than those in GNs (3.763±1.854 vs. 2.476±0.698, P>0.05). The mRNA levels of Hsp27 in the drug-resistant cell line were significantly higher than those in the neuroblastoma cell line (F=16.246, P < 0.01). Seven genomic markers of anti-neoplastic agents were examined, and Hsp27 expression was found to be related to platinum resistance.
Conclusions Hsp27 expression was associated with tumor stage, risk stratification, metastasis, and prognosis. Therefore, Hsp27 may promote tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis. Furthermore, Hsp27 expression is related to platinum resistance. Further studies with larger sample sizes areneeded to verify these correlations.